Electric-light socket.



To aZl it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE E. HAMBY,

-' a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Rockwood, in thecountyof Roane and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and juseful Improvements I in Electric-Light T Sockets, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

" TlfllS invention relates to electric switches and'has specialreference to switches for incandescent lamp sockets.

- 'The invention has for its object to proy jvidean improved electricswitch for incandescent lamp sockets so constructed'and arranged that inthe operation of the contact "maker there will be no jar such as isordinarily the case in the snap actionof a switch so that destruction orbreaking of. delicate 0r fine filaments will be avoided.

v Thejnventio'n further has for its object in addition tothe above notedfeatures to avoidshockto the filament and to provide a "to which may beapplied to contact maker that will operate smoothly without any jarand-thereby increase the life of delicate bulbs and filaments used in cttain types of'incandescent lamps.

, The invention further has for its object to'provide an improved switchfor incandescent lamp sockets of the kindreferred any form ofsocketto-be used.

Referring'to the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a view invertical-section ofan incandescent lamp socket provided with a snapswitch constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail view in perspective of a portion of the cont-act maker.Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of another portion of the contactmaker which is employed with the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail view in perspective of a snap switch constructed inaccordance with this invention. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion ofthe snap switch .thereto.

3 indicates the filling of the lamp socket to which is secured ametallic strip 4 having.

' ELECTRIC-LIGHT SOCKET.

V Specification of Letters Patent. Pat ent-ed J 1111?; 27, 1911.Application filed February 14, 1911. Serial No. 608,509. I

one end 5 bent down and forming a bearing for one end of the switchshaft 6, which extends through and is supported in the sides curved tofit in the curved sides 10'. iof the piece 9, the ends 12 of themetallic piece '11 being flush with and conforming to the open ends ofthe recess 10, and forming a continuation; of the curved surface of thepiece 9. Each of the pieces 9 and 11 is formed with holes 9 and 11 whichare in alinement with each' other, and throughwhich extends the, shaft(3, the piece 11 being formed midway between its ends wit-h a lateralopening 13, extending transversely through the piece Hand in saidopening 13 are located projections 14 on the shaft 6.

It will be seen that by means of this con-v struction, more particularlyshown in Fig. 6, there will be a lost motion of the shaft 6 in themovement of the projections 14 in the recess 13, and with the contactmaker is operated at the end of the throw of the shaft by the engagementof the projections 14 with the upper and lower walls ofthe recess 13. 15indicates a spring strip having its outer end preferably formed with atransverse head, the middle portion 16 of which is curved to conform tothe curvature of the piece 9 and the ends of the metallic piece 11 andhaving the lateral projections 17 whereby when the projections 14 actupon the piece 11 one end of the latter will drop smoothly intoengagement with the curved portion 16 of the end of the spring 15. Thespring 15, is mounted in any suitable manner upon the bar 4' and as hereshown preferably by having a curved portion 18 fitting snugly into'thecurved end 7 of the bar 4,

the end of the spring strip 15 being riveted as at 19 to the bar 4. Itwill be seen that by this latter connection of the spring15 with the bar4 a resilient movement will be given to the spring 15 in the operationof the contact maker. i

It will be seen that by'means of this construct-ion, the contact makerwill roll ing one end bearing on the, periphery of smoothly on the screwthreaded socket 2 and that the action of the spring with the contacts 1will be very gentle and smooth,

and that the snap actionof the switches of incandescent lamp socketswherein an oblong contact maker is employed is avoided.

Having described the invention, what I claim is 1. In an incandescentlamp socket of the kind described, a rotary switch shaft, an

' end bearing on the periphery of said oval piece and adapted to contactwith said contacts thereon.

2. In an incandescent lamp socket of the kind described, a rotary switchshaft, a piece of insulating material mounted thereon having itsperiphery formed with bulging sides, and with a transverse recess insaid piece, a metallic conducting block mounted in said recess with itsends flush with the periphery of said piece, and a conducting springhaving one end bearing on the periphery of said insulating piece, andadapted to contact with the ends of said metallic conducting piece.

3. In an incandescent lamp socket of the kind described, a rotaryswitch, a circular piece of insulating material slightly oblong inlength and mounted on said shaft, said piece having a transverse recess,a metallic conducting piece mounted in said recess with its ends flushwith the periphery of said in sulating piece, and a conducting springhavsaid insulating piece, and adapted to contact with the ends of saidmetallic conducting piece.

In an incandescent lamp socket of the kind described, a rotary switchshaft, a circular piece of insulating material haying an oblong recess,a metallic conducting block located in said recess and having its endsflushwith the periphery of said insulating piece, said piece andblock'being mounted on said rotary shaft, and a conducting spring havingone end curved and mounted in a support, and its other end bearingagainst the periphery of said insulating piece, and adapted to contactwith the ends of said metallic conducting'block.

5. In an incandescent lamp socket of the kind described, a rotary switchshaft, a slightly oblong curved piece of insulating material having anoblong recess, a metallic conducting block mounted in said recess, saidblock and piece being'mounted on said rotary shaft, and bearing againstone end of the threaded lamp socket, the ends of said metallicconducting block forming contacts and a conducting spring having one endbearing on the periphery of said piece of insulating material andadapted to contact with the ends of said conducting block.

In testimony whereof I'hereunto 'aflix my signature in presence oftwowitnesses.

THEODORE HAMBY. Vitnesses ROBERT H. THoMPsoN, J. N. BAKER.

